Gladiator 7, Supernatural RPS, R~ish

[phantisma]

Fandom: Supernatural RPS
Title: Gladiator 7 ( all of Courtesan can be found here)
Pairing/Characters: Jared, JDM, mention of Jensen, OCs
Rating: R~ish
Word Count: 2045
Summary: Total AU. Jared's fight brings him closer to freedom, and an audience with the king.

A/Ns & Warnings: Alas, no sex in this piece.

Art, from apieceofcake...




"How is he?"

Jared heard Lord Jeffrey long before he saw him. He shoved the medic away who was fussing over the wound in his side and stood.

"He would be better if he would let us treat him."

Jared growled at the medic who's hands were on him again. The smaller man backed off as Jeffrey ducked into the cell. "Jared?"

"It is but a scratch, my Lord." Jared responded.

Astin stepped between him and Jeffrey. "It isn't. It's deep. He won't let the medic sew it up."

"I won. I will stand before the king." Jared said from between clenched teeth.

Jeffrey moved Astin and lifted Jared's arm. "Sit your ass on the bed and let the boy stitch the wound." Jared glowered at him, but he knew he wasn't going to win with just one look at the set look on his lord's face.

"You will stand before the king, Jared, after you have stopped bleeding your life's blood onto your armor." Jeffrey turned to Astin. "He will need clean clothes and water. Hurry, we haven't much time."

Jared lifted his arm and let the medic do his work, wincing a little as nimble fingers pushed the skin together and pulled a needle through.

"You must show no weakness, Jared. You are victorious today, but tomorrow begins anew." Jeffrey paced away and back.

Four days out of five, Jared had fought anything and everything sent at him, climbing up the ranks. Each day the challenge grew harder, each day the fatigue pulled on weary limbs. Yet, each day he had stood among the victorious before the king.

His third and final battle of the day was only minutes over, his opponent bleeding and dying in another small room under the coliseum. He had been a good man, a valiant warrior. Jared had liked the man.

He had also been the second to last of those in the tournament sponsored by Prince Fallon. There was only one more. Malicus.

He was the heavy favorite to win. Jared had watched him fight and knew the battle would be fierce.

He hissed as the medic tied off his stitches and scuttled away. Astin returned with a basin of water and more courtly clothes than Jared had worn since coming to the capital. Jared let Astin wash him, cleaning away the blood before winding linen bandages around him.

Jeffrey leaned out the door, shaking his head. "They're lining up."

Jared peeled off his battle shorts and stepped into the tunic Astin held for him. The cloth was soft against his skin. It was blue, with the Morgan crest over his left breast. "I am ready, my lord."

Truth be told, Jared was in pain and wanted wine to dull it, but he needed his wits about him. There was treachery everywhere in this place. He trusted no one beyond Astin and Lord Jeffrey, and possibly Lucia. And even then, sometimes he wasn't sure he trusted any of them either.

"You make me proud." Jeffrey said as Jared headed for the line of the day's winners.

Jared put Jeffrey out of his mind and concentrated on the moment at hand. The first day there had been twenty of them. The next only fifteen. The day before only ten of them had stood before the king. Today there were five. Jared and Malicus among them.

They were led out on the sand, already groomed after the last battle. The crowd roared and flowers cascaded onto the ground around them. They were brought to the center of the arena and the king's fanfare sounded. The gates opened and he appeared, riding a gleaming gold trimmed chariot, waving to the crowd.

Fallon and Lucia rode with him and behind him came the royal entourage.

Jared shifted on his feet, uncomfortable. The stitches were tight and he had lost a lot of blood. The chariot stopped and the royal guard snapped to attention. The king stepped down, holding out his arms as if to embrace them. "My wonderful gladiators!"

As one, the five of them bowed. Jared bit his lip to keep from making noise. His side screamed in pain.

"Up, up, let me have a look at you." The king came closer, Fallon trailing behind him. Jared dared a glance to Lucia. She smiled at him. "Malicus, you fought valiantly today."

"You do me honor, my King." Malicus bowed.

"It is you who honor me. Fallon tells me that the gods smile on you."

"They have seen fit to give me strength to serve, Sire."

"And David, of the house of Callus. A most impressive battle against Pathos today."

"You do me honor, my King." David was the oldest of those standing in victory today, nearly five years older than Jared.

Jared felt eyes staring at him and glanced up. Fallon glared at him, undisguised loathing in his eyes. Jared missed the king's greeting to the other two gladiators, dropping his eyes as the king's shadow fell on him. "Ah, Jared. What a glorious battle, defeating Animus that way. It was inspiring."

"You do me honor, my King." Jared said automatically, bowing deeply.

"Your Lord Jeffrey boasts on you as if you were Mars himself."

"My Lord is most generous with his praise of my humble skills."

"Humble my ass." Fallon said, suddenly beside his father.

"Fallon, must you be so contentious?"

"This whelp has barely been tested, Sire, and yet you praise him as though he had single handedly bested a dragon or something."

The king scowled at his son. "He has been tested as much as any of these others, and worthy of the praise I bestow."

"He only barely bested Animus, Sire. He is wounded."

The king's eyes swept over Jared and Jared held his breath. If the king determine him too injured to continue, his chances were finished. "He seems to stand under his own power."

Fallon reached out, his hand unerringly finding Jared's wound, his thumb pressing in against it. Jared held his breath and stood under the pain. His eyes lifted to Fallon's, holding them until the king pulled Fallon away. "Enough of your pettiness, Fallon. The boy is a champion and will be treated as one."

"He will not best Malicus."

The king raised an eyebrow. "No?" His eyes swept over Jared. "And if he does?"

Fallon stopped mid-stride back to the chariot. "What?"

The king smiled. "If Jared bests Malicus tomorrow?"

Fallon stalked back to Jared, staring at him for a long moment before turning to face his father. "Give him his freedom." Jared didn't dare move. He wouldn't even have to ask for it. Fallon held up his hand. "But when Malicus beats him, given he survives, he belongs to me to do with as I please."

The king looked Jared over. "I believe we have ourselves a wager, Fallon." Fallon walked away and the king leaned in conspiratorially. "For your own sake, boy, you had better win tomorrow."

Jared bowed again, deep and slowly. "I will, Sire. I promise you."

The king stepped back, lifting both arms up in the air. "May our champions feast well and sleep soundly. Tomorrow battle begins anew!"

The crowd roared and the royal family departed the stadium. Once the gates were closed, Jared and the others were led back to the mess area. They would be given meat and fresh bread in place of the usual porridge. Jared gathered his food and sat away from the others.

He didn't want to get drawn into their competitive posturing or lured into heated argument that could lead to more trouble. He ate quickly, secreting away some of the food in his belt to give to Astin.

"You think he means it?" A shadow fell over Jared and he looked up to find Melicus standing over him.

"Who? What?"

Melicus squatted down, holding his bowl. "The king. Will he free you if you win?"

"I am told he is a man of his word." Jared replied.

"My lord doesn't like you."

Jared snorted. "Yeah, I've noticed."

"He wants me to hurt you. Tomorrow when we fight."

Jared looked up, but Malicus didn't look angry or threatening. "Well, you have to do what you have to do."

"I don't want to. You bring honor to us, you fight like a god."

Jared swallowed his bread and shook his head. "I am not god, Malicus. Just a gladiator fighting for something I love."

"Your lord?"

”You are my lord and my lover, my brave warrior. The only man who has ever seen me as I am." Jensen had said those words to him. Jensen saw him as his lord, there was no reason Jared couldn't see Jensen as his.

"You could say that."

"I will fight you with honor, not deceit." Malicus declared, standing and holding out his hand.

Jared stood and took the hand solemnly. "May the best man win."

Malicus nodded and then disappeared. Jared sighed and turned in his bowl. He need rest if he was going to be ready to fight in the morning. He headed for his cell. The flickering light leaking under the door told him Astin was still up. He slipped in and stopped.

Lucia was there too, and behind her someone in the courtly robes of a courtesan, their face lost in shadow. "Your highness." Jared shut the door. Astin was no where to be seen, probably sent to find him. "You should not be here." His heart hammered as the person with her whispered something he couldn't hear.

"I brought someone to tend your wound. I could see the pain in your face."

"I am fine, Highness." He fished the cloth with it's stolen bits of food from his belt and set it beside the bed.

"Humor me then, Jared, as your Lady."

"As you wish." He pulled the tunic off, his eyes dancing again to the shadows.

Lucia stepped aside and Jared held his breath. It wouldn't be Jensen…couldn't be. The young woman stepped lightly to his side and he could breathe again. "Lay down." She knelt beside the bed, bringing the candle closer so that she could see. "It is clean, Highness, and the stitches well done."

"Is there no more you can do?"

The courtesan smiled up at the princess. "I did not say that, Highness. I am gifted in the healing arts."

Jared felt her hands on his skin, then a flush of warmth. He lifted up to look, but her hand on his shoulder, encouraged him to lay down. "Close your eyes and relax my lord," she murmured softly.

Jared did as he was told, letting his mind wander to the last time Jensen had tended his wounds. His fingers were delicate and gentle, and his touch had soothed the pain much faster than any surgeon or medic Jared had ever known.

This courtesan had a similar touch.

"Drink this." Jared opened his eyes as her hand touched his cheek, her other hand holding a bowl to his lips.

"What is it?"

"It will dull the pain and let you sleep."

Jared shook his head. "I need to be aware."

Lucia leaned over him. "Drink it Jared. I will have you guarded through the night. No harm will come to you."

He acquiesced, because he could not refuse, drinking down the drugged water. The courtesan smiled at him and stood. "Tomorrow you should warm up the muscles slowly before you step into the arena, lest you tear the stitches."

"Come Kia, let us away and let our warrior sleep."

Kia moved away and Lucia leaned over him, kissing his forehead. "Jensen awaits you," she whispered softly before she led Kia out of the cell.

Jared was surprised to see Astin sitting in the corner. He hadn't even noticed his return. "I brought you food." Jared pointed to the balled up cloth.

"Thank you. Are you well?"

"Well enough, though I think I shall sleep deeply tonight." Already he could feel the drug inside him, dulling the pain and his senses.

"I will keep watch." Astin said, moving his stool closer. "Rest well."

Jared nodded, his eyes drifting closed. His mind filled with Jensen as he had last seen him, lonely and sad. Soon. Very soon.